Geranium plant named `BFP-1568`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named `BFP-1568`, characterized by its numerous semi-double coral orange-colored flowers; upright and rounded growth habit; vigorous and basal branching; and medium green leaves with a distinct zonation pattern.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geraniumplant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name `BFP-1568`.

The new Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Arroyo Grande, Calif. The objective of the breedingprogram was to develop new cultivars with excellent basal branching,medium growth habit, numerous flowers and umbels, and interesting flowerand foliage colors.

The new Geranium originated from a cross made by the Inventor of theproprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection 6583-52 as the male, orpollen parent, with the proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection6702-55 as the female, or seed parent. The cultivar `BFP-1568` wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in ArroyoGrande, Calif., on Sep. 15, 1996.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken atArroyo Grande, Calif., has shown that the unique features of this newGeranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `BFP-1568`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `BFP-1568` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Numerous semi-double coral orange-colored flowers.

2. Upright and rounded growth habit.

3. Vigorous and basal branching.

4. Medium green leaves with a distinct zonation pattern.

The new Geranium can be compared to the cultivar, `Designer Coral`(disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,522). However, in side-by-sidecomparisons conducted by the Inventor in Arroyo Grande, Calif., plantsof the new Geranium differ from plants of the cultivar `Designer Coral`in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Geranium have smaller leaves than plants of thecultivar `Designer Coral`.

2. Plants of the new Geranium have more flowers per umbel than plants ofthe cultivar `Designer Coral`.

3. Flower color of plants of the new Geranium is darker and more intensethan flower color of plants of the cultivar `Designer Coral`.

A detailed comparison of plants of the cultivar `BFP-1568` and thecultivar `Designer Coral` appears in Chart A at the end of thespecification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in a colored reproduction of this type. Thephotograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical plant of`BFP-1568`. Flower and foliage colors in the photograph may appeardifferent from the actual colors due to light refectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar `BFP-1568` has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in 10-cm pots inArroyo Grande, Calif., under commercial practice in a glass-coveredgreenhouse with day temperatures about 22° C. and night temperaturesabout 18° C.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar BFP-1568.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection 6583-52.

Female parent.--Proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection 6702-55.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--About 7 days at temperatures about 18° C.

Time to develop roots.--about 21 days at temperatures about 18° C.

Rooting habit.--Fibrous and freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.--Upright and rounded growth habit, vigorous.Appropriate for 10 and 12.5-cm containers. About nine weeks are requiredto produced a finished 10-cm container from a rooted cutting.

Growth and branching habit.--Basally branching with about two lateralbranches at the base.

Plant height, base of plant to top of leaf plane.--About 29 cm.

Plant width.--About 21.3 cm.

Lateral branches.--Length: About 13 cm. Internode length: About 3.3 cm.Color: 145B.

Foliage description.--Leaves simple, generally symmetrical, abundant,opposite. Quantity of leaves per lateral branch: About 12. Length: About5.5 cm. Width: About 9 cm. Shape: Reniform with rounded apex, cordatebase, and crenate margin. Texture: Leathery, both surfaces pubescent.Color: Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 137B with zonationpattern, 139A in color, about 2.4 cm wide. Fully expanded foliage, lowersurface: 137C. Venation, upper surface: 145A. Venation, lower surface:146D. Petiole: Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Color: 145B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.--Coral orange-colored flowers. Very freely andcontinuously flowering. Flowers arranged in spherical umbels arisingfrom apical leaf axils. Umbels displayed above or beyond the foliage.Usually about five umbels per plant. Flowers semi-double and round.Umbels persistent.

Flowering season.--Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In thegarden, flowering is continuous from spring through summer.

Umbels.--Number of flowers per umbel: About 40. Diameter: About 10.1 cm.Height: About 8 cm.

Flowers.--Diameter: About 4.7 cm. Depth (height): About 1.5 cm.

Flower buds.--Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Shape:Elliptic.

Petals.--Quantity: Five, overlapping. Usually about three petaloids perflower. Length: About 3.1 cm. Width: About 2.4 cm. Shape: Obovate withrounded apex and entire margin. Texture: Smooth. Color: Fully opened,upper surface: 43A, to 44B/45B. Fully opened, lower surface: 43B.Petaloids: Irregular in shape with very narrow base; about 1.7 cm inlength and about 2 mm in width; lower third of petaloids are white,155D, upper portions are 43A in color.

Peduncle (umbel stem).--Length: About 20.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Angle:Mostly erect. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.

Pedicel (individual flower stem).--Length: About 3 cm. Strength: Strong.Angle: Upright or outward. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 143C overlaid with181A becoming more predominately red, 181A, with age.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Anther size: About 2 mm. Amount ofpollen: Moderate. Pollen color: 31A. Gynoecium: Ovary color: Green.

Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, resistance to pathogenshas not been observed.

Seed development: Seed production has not been observed.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        CHARACTERISTIC                                                                              `BFP-1568'   `DESIGNER CORAL'                                   ______________________________________                                        PLANT HEIGHT  About 29 cm  About 28 cm                                        PLANT WIDTH           About 21.3 cm                                                                            About 20.8 cm                                INTERNODE LENGTH                                                                               About 3.3 cm                                                                                   About 4 cm                                  LEAF LENGTH           About 5.5 cm                                                                              About 6.4 cm                                LEAF WIDTH             About 9 cm                                                                                 About 10.8 cm                             UMBEL DIAMETER                                                                                   About 10.1 cm                                                                               About 11.3 cm                                UMBEL HEIGHT         About 8 cm                                                                                   About 6.8 cm                              NUMBER OF FLOWERS                                                                             About 40              About 31                                PER UMBEL                                                                     PETAL COLOR, UPPER                                                                           43A to 44B/45B                                                                                 41A to 39A/41B                                SURFACE                                                                       PETAL COLOR, LOWER                                                                           43B                         41C                                SURFACE                                                                       PEDUNCLE LENGTH                                                                                 About 20.5 cm                                                                                About 21.8 cm                                ______________________________________                                    

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named `BFP-1568`, as illustrated and described. 